Rainbow flag raised outside Kitchener City Hall for first time
A rainbow flag has been hoisted at a community flagpole at Duke St. and Young St. in preparation for tri-Pride celebrations in Waterloo Region. This comes after the city decided not to raise a rainbow flag at city hall during the Sochi Olympics.
![The flagpole is one of two community flagpoles designated by the city in May.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.2667880.1685477621!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/tri-pride-flag-kitchener.jpg?im=Resize%3D780)
The pride flag has been raised at a community flagpole at Duke and Young streets outside of Kitchener City Hall, marking the first time the flag has been flown at Civic Square.
Coun. Berry Vrbanovic said in a tweet that the flag is being raised in celebration of the tri-Pride fest.
This comes after the city decided to designate two community flagpoles following the controversy over a decision not to fly the rainbow flag during the Sochi Olympics.
According to a news release issued by the City of Kitchener, community interest groups can ask to have a flag flown on one of the new flagpoles to:
- honour national or independence days important to the residents of Kitchener;
- support fundraising drives important to the residents of Kitchener;
- celebrate multicultural and civic organizations or events important to the residents Kitchener.